By Steven Collins, Senior Reporter, Circleville Herald
Photo by Nancy Radcliff, Chief Photographer, Circleville Herald
Circleville Herald, November 15, 2018
The Ohio Christian University’s Teacher Education program is guiding the next generation of teachers into modern day teaching.
Valarie Jones, chair of the education department, said they’re teaching their education students about trauma-informed educating, a way to teach students who have been affected by trauma to their maximum potential.
“Everything we do has the idea to love the kids first and then everything else comes after,” Jones said explaining their process. “It’s about the education of the whole child, mind, body, and soul. It’s something we’ve been teaching here all along.”
Jones cited the teachings of John Dewey, a philosopher during the late 19th and early 20th centuries who had the idea that education and learning are social and interactive processes and that students thrive in an environment where they are allowed to experience and interact with the material they’re learning.
“We stay true to what we believe is the best way to teach education, to both children and adults, which is through hands-on methods through teaching the whole child or young adult,” she said. “It’s not just about the content, or just about testing. We don’t focus on testing. We focus on what the child, or in our classrooms, the young adult needs.”
Jones noted that education has changed over the years.
“We’re committed here to educate the next generation of teachers and that looks a lot different than it did 20 years ago and that’s okay,” she said. “We’re of course a Christian university and everything we do. We have Christ at our center. We show Christ’s love to our students. We know the world is changing and we need to prepare our students to be excellent educators and that’s what we’re prepared to do.”
This year, the freshman class of students in the department doubled in size as the department has added several new programs and diversified the grade levels they offer.
As part of preparing their students to be educators, Jones said they’re working with the local school districts to give their students the opportunity to learn. In exchange, they’re offering professional development to those districts.
“We appreciate so much our relationships with all the schools in the area,” she said. “All of our students are in those classrooms and we make sure our students get a diverse idea of all the schools. We want them to know if they like a city school better than a county school so they’re prepared for where they may want to teach.”
Email: scollins@circlevilleherald.com and follow on twitter @Collins_Herald
Articles of Interest
Trailblazers in Reading
Published: August 12, 2019
Submitted by Professor Scott Barr
American author Henry David Thoreau wrote, “How many a man has dated a new
era in his life from the reading of a book.” This holds true for many of
the young men and women in Professor Anita Conkel and Professor Scott
Barr’s English composition classes. On April 15, students marked their
participation in “The Great American Read” with a celebration sponsored
by the English Department and hosted by the Maxwell Library staff.
“The Great American Read” is a nationwide event started by the Public
Broadcast System (PBS) in 2018. One hundred influential and
Submitted by Professor Scott Barr
American author Henry David Thoreau wrote, “How many a man has dated a new
era in his life from the reading of a book.” This holds true for many of
the young men and women in Professor Anita Conkel and Professor Scott
Barr’s English composition classes. On April 15, students marked their
participation in “The Great American Read” with a celebration sponsored
Submitted by Professor Scott Barr
American author Henry David Thoreau wrote, “How many a man has dated a new
era in his life from the reading of a book.” This holds true for many of
the young men
OCU Assisted with Summer Institute for Teachers
Published: June 14, 2019
The 2019 Summer Institute took place on June 3-7. The Ohio Christian
University Teacher Education Department partnered with Circleville City
Schools, Pickaway County Board of Developmental Disabilities, and Pickaway
County ESC to design an institute that would benefit many educators.
Courses offered for graduate credit included Trauma Informed Care Training
II, Orton-Gillingham Training, and Google Classroom Training.
The Ohio Christian University Teacher Education Department believes in
providing excellent and effective professional development for the teachers
and the school
The 2019 Summer Institute took place on June 3-7. The Ohio Christian
University Teacher Education Department partnered with Circleville City
Schools, Pickaway County Board of Developmental Disabilities, and Pickaway
County ESC to design an institute that would benefit many educators.
Courses offered for graduate credit included Trauma Informed Care Training
II, Orton-Gillingham Training, and
The 2019 Summer Institute took place on June 3-7. The Ohio Christian
University Teacher Education Department partnered with Circleville City
Schools, Pickaway County Board of Developmental
OCU T.E. Group Observes Educators in Finland and Sweden
Published: June 6, 2019
During summer break, Dr. Valerie Jones, Teacher Education Chair and Dr.
Jeanne Bruce, Associate Professor, traveled with five pre-service educators
to Helsinki, Finland, and Stockholm, Sweden to study the top-two school
systems in the world. The group was able to tour a Finnish grade school to
observe their curriculum and instruction and speak with the students and
teachers. In Sweden, the group visited a university and were able to learn
about Swedish high schools and the transition to higher education. In
addition to the focus on education, the group did some sightseeing and
learned
During summer break, Dr. Valerie Jones, Teacher Education Chair and Dr.
Jeanne Bruce, Associate Professor, traveled with five pre-service educators
to Helsinki, Finland, and Stockholm, Sweden to study the top-two school
systems in the world. The group was able to tour a Finnish grade school to
observe their curriculum and instruction and speak with the students and
teachers. In Sweden, the
During summer break, Dr. Valerie Jones, Teacher Education Chair and Dr.
Jeanne Bruce, Associate Professor, traveled with five pre-service educators
to Helsinki, Finland, and Stockholm, Sweden to
Summer Institute Courses
Published: May 10, 2019
This summer, Ohio Christian University is offering summer courses that will
help K-12 and undergraduate instructors work towards a graduate degree. The
institute gives instructors the opportunity to earn degrees and gain
knowledge in a shorter period of time.
Each course lasts for six weeks and counts as three credit hours. There will
be two separate six-week terms throughout the summer. The cost of these
graduate level classes is $990 per course. There is a simple application and
approval process for the program.
The University will also be offering special topic classes that count
This summer, Ohio Christian University is offering summer courses that will
help K-12 and undergraduate instructors work towards a graduate degree. The
institute gives instructors the opportunity to earn degrees and gain
knowledge in a shorter period of time.
Each course lasts for six weeks and counts as three credit hours. There will
be two separate six-week terms throughout the summer. The
This summer, Ohio Christian University is offering summer courses that will
help K-12 and undergraduate instructors work towards a graduate degree. The
institute gives instructors the opportunity
On-Campus College or Online College: Which Fits You?
Published: April 26, 2019
by Dr. Lynn Lease, Director of OCUOnline Plus
Long gone are the days of being limited to simply deciding which college to
attend. Today’s incoming college freshmen have the choice of an on-campus
program, an online program, or a combination of the two. But which option
best fits you?
In order to choose what fits you best, there are important considerations for
each option.
Location and Setting
When you consider going away to college, it is important to not only consider
the qualities of the school but also the location and the setting. How far
away from home is optimal? Do you want
by Dr. Lynn Lease, Director of OCUOnline Plus
Long gone are the days of being limited to simply deciding which college to
attend. Today’s incoming college freshmen have the choice of an on-campus
program, an online program, or a combination of the two. But which option
best fits you?
In order to choose what fits you best, there are important considerations for
each option.
Location and
by Dr. Lynn Lease, Director of OCUOnline Plus
Long gone are the days of being limited to simply deciding which college to
attend. Today’s incoming college freshmen have the choice of an on-campus
Archived Articles of Interest
Faculty Profile: Dr. Darren M. Johnson
Published: November 16, 2018
Dr. Darren M. Johnson joined Ohio Christian University’s Psychology
Department as an Associate Professor of Psychology and Chemical Dependency
Counseling. He is currently teaching Abnormal Psychology, Introduction to
Substance Abuse Counseling, Diversity Issues in Counseling, Principles of
Counseling, and Physiological Psychology.
In 2017, ProQuest published Johnson’s “The Experience of Being an Atheist
in the United States,” a report on his study of interviews with twelve
atheists. He has presented on Coping with Stress in the Workplace, Good
Grief: How Grieving Properly Can Be
Dr. Darren M. Johnson joined Ohio Christian University’s Psychology
Department as an Associate Professor of Psychology and Chemical Dependency
Counseling. He is currently teaching Abnormal Psychology, Introduction to
Substance Abuse Counseling, Diversity Issues in Counseling, Principles of
Counseling, and Physiological Psychology.
In 2017, ProQuest published Johnson’s “The Experience of
Dr. Darren M. Johnson joined Ohio Christian University’s Psychology
Department as an Associate Professor of Psychology and Chemical Dependency
Counseling. He is currently teaching Abnormal
Business Grad Finds Calling: Believer in Hands-on Learning
Published: November 2, 2018
By Quentin Detillion '20
I grew up in Chillicothe and went to Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. I
didn’t know what I wanted to do then, so I switched majors a couple of
times before settling on business, and I graduated in business management. I
went home and began working for my father’s landscape design and
installation business that he’s had for forty years. While in school during
summers, I worked for him doing hardscaping projects. I enjoyed building
patios, pergolas, walls, and walkways. I did that for four years after
graduation. My dad taught me the ropes, and people asked if
By Quentin Detillion '20
I grew up in Chillicothe and went to Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. I
didn’t know what I wanted to do then, so I switched majors a couple of
times before settling on business, and I graduated in business management. I
went home and began working for my father’s landscape design and
installation business that he’s had for forty years. While in school during
By Quentin Detillion '20
I grew up in Chillicothe and went to Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. I
didn’t know what I wanted to do then, so I switched majors a couple of
times before settling on
Faculty Profile: Dr. Caleb Friedeman
Published: November 1, 2018
Dr. Caleb T. Friedeman recently joined Ohio Christian University’s Religion
Department as Assistant Professor of Biblical Studies. A disciple of Jesus
Christ with a passion to serve the Church as a pastor-theologian, Friedeman
brings to the department the heart of a pastor and the mind of a scholar.
Friedeman holds a B.A. in Ancient Languages from Asbury University, an M.A.
in Biblical Literature from Wesley Biblical Seminary, and a Ph.D. in Biblical
Theology (New Testament) from Wheaton College. His doctoral dissertation
focused on the Christology of Luke chapters 1 and 2 and its
Dr. Caleb T. Friedeman recently joined Ohio Christian University’s Religion
Department as Assistant Professor of Biblical Studies. A disciple of Jesus
Christ with a passion to serve the Church as a pastor-theologian, Friedeman
brings to the department the heart of a pastor and the mind of a scholar.
Friedeman holds a B.A. in Ancient Languages from Asbury University, an M.A.
in Biblical
Dr. Caleb T. Friedeman recently joined Ohio Christian University’s Religion
Department as Assistant Professor of Biblical Studies. A disciple of Jesus
Christ with a passion to serve the Church as a
Faculty Profile: Dr. Jeanne R. Bruce Joins Teacher Education Department
Published: November 1, 2018
Dr. Jeanne R. Bruce, who recently joined Ohio Christian University’s
Teacher Education Department, creates positive environments where students
thrive and succeed. Experienced in applying strategies for success in
teaching, she is well-versed in classroom management, online instruction, and
student support.
Recognized for her communication and relationship-building skills, Professor
Bruce teaches a spectrum of courses, including Educational Psychology, Math
Methods, Cultures of Children, Instructional Strategies for Adolescents and
Young Adults, Fundamentals of Communication, and
Dr. Jeanne R. Bruce, who recently joined Ohio Christian University’s
Teacher Education Department, creates positive environments where students
thrive and succeed. Experienced in applying strategies for success in
teaching, she is well-versed in classroom management, online instruction, and
student support.
Recognized for her communication and relationship-building skills, Professor
Bruce
Dr. Jeanne R. Bruce, who recently joined Ohio Christian University’s
Teacher Education Department, creates positive environments where students
thrive and succeed. Experienced in applying
Writing Center Success Highlighted at Conference for Writing Program Administrators
Published: October 8, 2018
English Professor Krista Stonerock, Writing Center Director at Ohio Christian
University (OCU), recently presented “Connecting the University Writing
Center to the First-Year Experience” at the Conference for Writing Program
Administrators in Sacramento, California.
Dr. Stonerock described how the OCU Writing Center serves as a critical
resource for at-risk students during their first year at the
university. Citing reflective logs of peer tutors and surveys of first-year
students that illuminate the concerns and successes of the Writing Center,
she described how the center is poised
English Professor Krista Stonerock, Writing Center Director at Ohio Christian
University (OCU), recently presented “Connecting the University Writing
Center to the First-Year Experience” at the Conference for Writing Program
Administrators in Sacramento, California.
Dr. Stonerock described how the OCU Writing Center serves as a critical
resource for at-risk students during their first year
English Professor Krista Stonerock, Writing Center Director at Ohio Christian
University (OCU), recently presented “Connecting the University Writing
Center to the First-Year Experience” at the
